MLB, Players' Union Met Wednesday For First Formal Bargaining Session

MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner Thursday said that league and players' union officials "met in Florida on Wednesday for their first formal session to discuss" a new CBA, according to Barry Bloom of MLB.com. Weiner characterized the initial session as "productive." The owners are "seeking to expand the playoffs by adding two Wild Card teams -- which would require an additional round of playoffs -- as well as adding a slotting-pay system to a possibly expanded worldwide amateur draft and tweaks in revenue sharing." The union is "trying to figure out how to viably compress the schedule to include another round of playoffs" (MLB.com, 3/3). When asked to characterize Wednesday's talks, Weiner said, "It was a productive session. We had a very strong showing of players there. We had a good dialogue. It was introductory. We had a good dialogue with the owners' representatives and good contributions from the players themselves." Weiner added that the two sides "could meet later this month when the union spring training tour moves to Arizona" (Baltimore SUN, 3/4). Weiner "wouldn't characterize the tenor of the talks." Weiner: "I don't want to say: optimistic, pessimistic, but I'm looking forward to the bargaining" (AP, 3/3).